Tsubomi Takane gave no exception to the powerful esper, Kageyama Shigeo, for he ended up with tears of rejection right after confessing. However, their story didn’t stop there. Mob continued to thrive as his feelings towards Tsubomi became more fruitful even after being rejected. Read on to know how they rekindled their relationship. But, I’m warning you that there will be huge spoilers ahead!
School crushes are normal. They bring you happiness, inspiration, and eagerness to go to school. The main protagonist of Mob Psycho 100 also longed for love, just like anyone else.
Kageyama Shigeo, also known as Mob, always wanted the attention of her childhood friend, Tsubomi Takane. Shigeo was always fond of her. She was one of the few people who Mob liked showing his psychic abilities to.
How Did Tsubomi and Mob Met?
Tsubomi and Mob might have been neighbors or schoolmates ever since they were little. The flashback scenes of Tsubomi and Mob always shared their moments happily playing in a park.
They both shared cute little moments, and Mob was happy that his powers were making her smile. However, Tsubomi’s interest in Mob’s abilities slowly faded.
Her losing interest in his abilities made a significant impact on their friendship. They stopped playing together, and Tsubomi became interested in other kids’ talents, such as sports. However, this was not a hindrance for Mob to develop more feelings towards her.

Shigeo always remembered and cherished his moments with her when they were little. However, they did not have many interactions growing up despite attending the same school. Though Mob didn’t consider this as a disadvantage because he was still happy as long as he got to see her.
Tsubomi Takane is presumably the most popular girl in Salt Middle School. Her schoolmates even referred to her as an idol because of her looks, intelligence, and heart-warming personality.
During the Divine Tree Arc, Dimple even tells Mob that he has no chance of forming a romantic relationship with Tsubomi. He told Shigeo that Tsubomi was just a good person who, as much as possible, didn’t want to break any hearts.
However, Dimple didn’t even faze Shigeo because just after the said arc Shigeo decided to finally confess his true feelings toward the end of Season 3, and not to fall behind her other suitors. Many boys wanted to be with her, aside from Mob. She was popular in all ways—the complete opposite of the esper lover boy.
Shigeo didn’t have plenty of interactions with Tsubomi when they were in Middle School. It was like they didn’t know each other or should I say Tsubomi seemed like she forgot about Mob.
In Season 3 – Episode 3 of the series, Mob had his first interaction with Tsubomi after years of only admiring her from the sidelines. When Tsubomi and her friends were throwing the garbages, Tsubomi suddenly had a runny nose and sneezed. Without any handkerchief to wipe her nose, and with the fear of her friends making fun of her, she didn’t remove her hands from her face.

Tsubomi got nervous, especially when her friends started to ask her to remove her hands from her face. Luckily, his esper in shining uniform suddenly showed up and told the girls that they were being called by their teacher. When the girls were gone, Mob approached Tsubomi and offered her a handkerchief.
She accepted it and thanked him. It was actually the first time that fans got to witness Tsubomi saying Mob-kun. Tsubomi then told Mob that it has been a while since they talked. On the outside, Mob seemed so calm and composed, but we’re pretty sure he wasn’t. After that, she went ahead and told Shigeo, See you later, which made our esper lover boy very happy.
One of the happiest moments of Shigeo was not probably when he fought and beat up some powerful espers, and evil spirits. It may have been this interaction with her childhood crush.

Did Tsubomi Become Mob’s Girlfriend?
Unfortunately, no. Mob didn’t develop any romantic relationship with Tsubomi as far as the story goes. However, in Season 2 of Mob Psycho 100, Shigeo actually dated someone who attended the same school as him. After deciding to run for student council president. Shigeo met Emi. She expressed her admiration towards Mob and asked her to go out with her.
Mob agreed, and they went out for a few weeks as girlfriend and boyfriend. They even walked home together, or sorta walk home together. Because Emi confronted Mob that she knew that he was going back to school after walking home to attend the practice of the Body Improvement Club.

However, even Emi knowing that his relationship with Mob was just a dare among her friends. The comfort he gave her resulted in Emi trusting him to read the novel she wrote.
But when Emi’s rude and mean friends saw the notebook containing her novel, they made fun of her. They ripped it into pieces. Shigeo then showed up and stood for the defenseless Emi. He then revealed to her his psychic ability by putting the back the pieces of paper together.

During the Mini-Girlfriend Arc of Shigeo in Mob Psycho 100, Shigeo showed that he is the kind of boyfriend who would go all the way just to not make her girlfriend sad. Just imagine, walking her home every day and then walking back to school to practice. He even went MIA on his beloved Master Reigen, just for her.
Fans are already aware of Shigeo’s kind personality as a brother, friend, schoolmate, and student. However, fans also got to witness Mob as a boyfriend because of Emi. Emi’s respect and admiration grew more after Shigeo saves her from her friends.
Did they still have a romantic relationship? No. They continued their relationship but in a very platonic aspect. Mob’s first relationship may not have lasted, but he indeed gained another female friend through Emi, aside from Ichi Mezato and Tome Korata.
If you’re wondering about his feelings for Tsubomi. Well, Mob’s feelings for his childhood friend didn’t fade even with his encounter with Emi-chan. In fact, he even gained the confidence to convey his true feelings after a long journey, and immediately got rejected.
Read More: Did Mob Lose His Powers in the Final Season?
What Happened When Tsubomi Rejected Mob?
When it was announced that Tsubomi was transferring to another school. The news traveled fast. Boys immediately rushed to confess their feelings towards her. Shigeo was shocked when the news regarding Tsubomi moving away reached him. So decided to line up with the rest of Tsubomi’s suitors.
To prepare himself for his long-overdue confession. Mob went around his school to ask for love advice from his friends. After gaining almost none from his friends aside from Gambatte! Shigeo went straight to Tsubomi’s class hoping to talk to her. With trembling feet, and a shaking voice he waited for her outside their classroom.
However, it was not Tsubomi who he saw but her friend, Mezato. Mezato told him that the one he was looking for is not around. She instantly advised him to schedule a different day to confess. When asked why, she said that Tsubomi was already at the school grounds, busy rejecting his countless suitors. If Mob would confess just like the other boys, he might get caught up with Tsubomi’s straight-up rejection, and wouldn’t be able to fully express his feelings.

Hence, Shigeo accepted his friend’s advice and asked for more advice, such as cutting his hair for Tsubomi. In fact, he almost did everything just for her, even joining the Body Improvement Club, if you remember, just for him to excel in sports.
The night before his confession, Mob called Tsubomi’s number and nervously asked her to meet him tomorrow at the park. Before meeting Tsubomi, Mob dropped by the flower shop to buy some for Tsubomi. However, he didn’t get a very beautiful flower arrangement because of his money.

Fortunately, his former esper enemy from the terrorist organization Claw was working there as a florist. When he saw Mob leave the store, he ran after him and traded a beautiful bouquet of flowers for the one Mob bought.
Things were going smoothly as planned not until Mob tried to save a kid from being hit by a car. Instead of the boy, it was Mob who ended up getting a wound on his head. This accident caused the untamed side of Mob to unleash and rampage across the city.
It was revealed that the hidden untamed version was the one who harbored intense feelings for Tsubomi. His dark other self told him that they fell in love with Tsubomi because she was someone who couldn’t care less about their psychic abilities. With or without powers, Tsubomi still made friends with Mob and accepted her.
Although it seemed like Mob will no longer be able to confess because his other self was successfully overtaking his mind and body. His dearest Master didn’t give up on saving him. It was then that Reigen admitted the truth among all his lies.

This made Mob accept who he truly is, reaching full control of his psychic abilities.
After snapping back to reality, he met up with Tsubomi, who patiently waited for him instead of evacuating. With only a single yellow flower left from the bouquet, Tsubomi honestly told him that she couldn’t reciprocate his feelings as she still doesn’t see him that way. Take note of the word still.
Tsubomi-chan is someone who showed that Shigeo’s psychic abilities don’t make him less or more of a human. Even with his powers, she saw him as who Kageyama Shigeo simply is.
Even after his rejection, Mob may actually stand a chance because at the end of the final episode, his young esper brother revealed that Tsubomi and Shigeo have been constantly talking over the phone ever since she moved away.

Unfortunately, Mob Psycho 100 original manga and its anime adaptation already ended; hence any progress regarding their relationship is left for fans to speculate.
Read More: Did Mob Psycho 100 End Too Soon?